Monday, November 9, 2009

Gender-Based Violence on Campus: It's happening. You've seen it, you've heard it and you've witnessed it. So now is the time to speak up.

Join the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre, The Womyn's Centre, The Graduate Students’ Association and students across campus for this open forum.

Panelists will be making brief presentations and then the floor is open to anyone who would like to speak about their experience, the experience of someone they know or their general thoughts about the issue.

Not comfortable speaking in front of a group? Written submissions will be accepted at the forum.

The main goal is to bring the issue into the open and to get the campus community and Carleton administration to recognize that this is a problem. The end goal is a written report that will be compiled from all the statements made that day and submitted to Carleton University Administration and the media.

Your silence will not protect you.

Open Your Eyes. Listen Up. Speak Out.

Tuesday, November 10thStarts at 11amAtrium, UniCentre, Carleton University

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

The Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre (in conjunction with the Womyn's Centre and the Graduate Students' Association) will be hosting a Task Force on Gender-Based Violence on Tuesday, November 10th, 2009. It will take place from 11am-1pm in the University Centre Atrium at Carleton University. Be there, and spread the word!

More information will be made available in the days leading up to the task force--please check back!

Hear the Coalition on the radio! Interview on CKDU 88.1 FM (Halifax) from October HERE.

More information:

CKDU News CollectiveSeptember 30, 2009

HALIFAX–Carleton University students and the Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre are outraged by the latest known sexual assault on campus. Carleton University Campus Safety has released information regarding an assault that occurred near residence on September 25th, 2009 in which a woman was “struck in the face and groped by an unknown male”. Posters have been put up around campus reporting the incident. The Coalition questions why the information describes a sexual assault but labels the incident as an “assault” only.

The Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre was formed in 2007 after a high-profile sexual assault on campus exposed the lack of adequate support services. After a three-year campaign for increased services, students at Carleton University are still waiting for a centre, for which over 80% of students voted in favour in a 2008 referendum. The campaign reached a fever pitch this past summer when the survivor of the high-profile sexual assault filed a lawsuit against the University. In its statement of defence, Carleton argued that the woman, “failed to take appropriate or any action for her own safety”. Harsh criticism from students, alumni and advocates across the country prompted the University to settle with the plaintiff. However, a Sexual Assault Centre remains to be seen on campus and students continue to demand one.

In this episode of Operation Wake Up! News Collective Host Jane Kirby interviews Julie Lalonde of the Coalition for Carleton University Sexual Assault Centre about Carleton University’s continued failure to take issues of sexual assault seriously, as well as disturbing trends in universities’ responses to this issue and to activism on campuses across the country.

About Me

The Coalition for a Carleton Sexual Assault Centre advocates on behalf of the voices of Carleton students to develop a student-run, university-funded, sustainable, and accessible Sexual Assault Centre (SAC) on Carleton University’s campus. This proposed Centre would be available to all Carleton students, staff, and faculty regardless of gender, sex, sexual orientation, race, religion, ethnicity, citizenship, ability, age, Mother Tongue or student
status. It would provide peer support, advocacy and public awareness about sexual assault. All services would be free and confidential. The Coalition believes that such a Centre would give the Carleton community safe, accessible, and timely access to sexual assault support services on campus.